THE HOLY LAND REGION BY REGION - Jerusalem and the Holy Land - page 169

Haifa and Mount Carmel 3
The city of Haifa lies on the Mediterranean coast at the
foot of Mount Carmel. Israel's third largest city, it is a
major industrial centre. Away from the busy port, steep
slopes rise up the mountain, providing quiet, attractive
suburbs for the wealthy. A small trading port for most of
its history, Haifa was conquered by the Crusaders in the
early 12th century (see pp48-9) , and later fortified under
Ottoman rule. In the late 19th century it became an
important refuge for Jewish immigrants. Between 1918
and 1948 Haifa was taken over by the British in the
occupation of Palestine. Today it is a mixed, non-religous
city, and the only one where buses run on Saturdays.

VISITORS' CHECKLIST
Road map B2. * 290,000. ~
£ @ n 48 Ben Gurion St,
[phone].

Bat Galim
Northwest of Central Carmel
is the popular coastal area of
Bat Galim. Close to the city
centre, its beach and busy
seafront promenade have
made it a favourite with
tourists. For those wanting
more extensive beaches,
however, try the attractive
Carmel Beach. This is 6 km
(4 miles) to the south, away
from the busy city.

R Carmelite Monastery
Stella Maris St. Tel [phone]. l

# daily. 7
On much of the upper slopes
of Mount Carmel are wide
stretches of vegetation, the
remnants of an ancient forest.
On these slopes, to the
southwest of Bat Galim,
is the Stella Maris Carmelite
Monastery, which can be
reached by cable car or on
foot. Built in an area that for
centuries was frequented by
hermits, this was a place of
worship where the Carmelite
order was founded. The
beautiful church here dates
from the early 1800s.

The spectacular Baha'i Temple and gardens in Haifa

E National Museum of Science and Technology
Old Technion, 12 Balfour St. Tel (04) l

and is the headquarters of
the Baha'i faith. Its followers
believe that no religion has
a monopoly on the truth,
and aim to integrate the
teachings of all holy men.
The ornate temple houses
the tomb of the Bab, the
herald of Bahaulla. Bahaulla
(1817- 92) is the central
figure of the Baha'i faith and
is considered by his disciples
to have been the most recent
of God's messengers.

862 8111. # Daily. & 7
www .mustsee.co.il
The former Technology
Institute in the city centre is
one of Haifa's most important
buildings. Founded by German
immigrants in the early 1900s,
it was Israel's first institute of
higher education. Renovated
many times, it is now home
to the National Museum of
Science and Technology, which
has many interesting interactive
exhibits, exploring the latest
innovations in Israeli science.

T Elijah's Cave
Stella Maris St. Tel [phone]. l
# Sun-Fri (Fri: am only). 7
Below the monastery is
Elijah's Cave, with its small
altar, where Elijah is said to
have lived and meditated
before defeating the pagan
prophets of Baal on Mount
Carmel. Today it is a
pilgrimage site for all three
monotheistic religions. Central Carmel

South of the
temple, Central
Carmel spreads
up the slopes of
the mountain. A
largely wealthy
residential area, it
manages to resist
the onslaught of
traffic and busy
modern life.
Its many parks,
cafés, and stylish
bars make it a
relaxing detour.

U Baha'i Temple and
Gardens
Ha-Ziyonut St. Tel [phone]. l
# daily (temple: am only). 7
On the edge of the city centre
towards Central Carmel is
Haifa's most striking land-
mark, the impressive golden-
domed Baha'i Temple.
Standing imperiously on the
hillside, it is surrounded by
a splendidly manicured park,

Dome of the Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery